Parallel machining research wins Academy award

21 March 2014

A machining project led by young AMRC researchers has been rewarded by fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The AMRC's machining dynamics technology team, part of the Process Technology Group (PTG), won the poster competition at the Academy's regional lecture on 17 March. The competition featured over 20 finalists, showcasing cutting-edge research by postgraduates and young staff from universities across the North of England. The winner was elected by fellows of the Academy attending the event, hosted by the University of Sheffield as part of National Science & Engineering Week.

The AMRC team included Dr Erdem Ozturk (pictured), machining dynamics technical fellow; technical lead Omer Ozkirimli; head of PTG Sam Turner; and Tom Gibbons, a postgraduate researcher at the AMRC's Industrial Doctorate Centre in Machining Science.

The project focused on the dynamics of parallel machining operations, a technique that uses several cutting tools simultaneously to reduce cycle time for complex machining tasks.

The team developed process models for parallel turning, milling and boring operations for aerospace applications. These models provide a detailed understanding of the dynamic interactions between multiple tools and workpiece, allowing the machining parameters to be fine-tuned so that each cutting tool can absorb or stabilise vibrations caused by the other tool.

For parallel turning, the team showed that productivity improvements of over 100 per cent can be achieved. And for parallel milling, metal removal rates can be increased by over 150 per cent.